Design Triangle

Quantifying the Design

The Triangle:

The Design Triangle consists of three parameters:

Quality
Quantity
Cost

Each is dependent on the others and as you change one the others react in differing ways.

Quality

This part deals with the quality of the materials used in the construction of the project. There is a difference in the way standard tile, manufactured stone and natural stones look and feel. This also goes into the performance of appliances; a standard electric range/oven may not cook the food as quick or to your taste as a higher end professional style gas range.

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Quantity

The Quantity of the project is pretty straightforward. What would your ideal size for this home to be?

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Cost

The Cost of the project is also pretty straightforward. How much do you want to spend on the building of your home?

Choices

Decision Time:

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Now that we’ve established the needs of your project, the bad news is that we can only control two of these parameters. Here is what happens with each of the decisions.

Controlling Quantity and Cost:

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When you control the Quantity along with the Cost of a project, you are defining how much you are going to spend and the size of the home you want. The overall Quality of the finishes and materials will have to be less expensive or less extensive throughout the home.

Large house + budget control = Limited choices on quality

Controlling Quantity and Quality:

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When you control the Quality and the Quantity of a project you are defining the types of products and finishes that you want to use and the overall size of the project. In this case the cost is dependent on the amount it cost to finish and the products to cover the size of the home.

Large house + High dollar finishes = No budget control